We Need A Centrist Media

As I listen to and read the media hype about the Republican candidates, I wonder if Rick Perry didn't have the head of hair he has would he be getting the same amount of attention.  I'm not hearing ideas.  Only self aggrandisement and criticism of what is.

Actually I'm getting tired of the cult of personality ruling the  headlines.  Where the heck are the centrists and independents?  I do my best but with my handful of readers, many who rarely agree with me, I have no impact.

What we need is a press corp who will pay attention to candidates who actually have ideas rather than those playing to a specific crowd.  The conservatives get far more press than they deserve while the moderates get very little.  Who is covering Romney and Huntsman?  Especially Huntsman who is probably the best of the lot though there are subjects on which I disagree with him. That's to be expected.  But where is he?  What is he talking about these days?  The same with Romney.  I could care less whether or not he and Perry like one another.
And Herman Cain.  Is his lack of press because they feel he has no chance? Even Ron Paul who always makes a good showing in the polls.

If the center lets the far right steal the march it will be their own fault for not being vocal enough, though admittedly it's difficult to be vocal if no one picks up on it.

I heard today Sarah Palin is heading to New Hampshire over the Labor Day weekend to talk jobs.  Speculation has it she's getting ready to enter the race.  With a little bit of luck Bachmann, Perry and Palin will cancel each other out.

If it's true they all need the independents to win, they certainly aren't showing it.  No one is wooing us in either party.  But this isn't about the Democrats unless the progressives succeed in getting Hillary to mount a challenge.  It's about the Republicans and a laughably weak field unless you happen to be a staunch Christian Conservative.

I hear about third party efforts all the time but they have no traction.  A non-party, the Tea Party, has hijacked the process with demands that make no sense yet the moderate Republicans seem so afraid of losing their congressional seats they've been rendered impotent.  Some choice.  Far left or far right. It's said the pendulum always swings back.  The problem is the political pendulum we're now witnessing just swings from one extreme to the other.  It seems to be in perpetual motion with no signs of slowing, what's more stopping - in the center.

Let The Politicians Talk!

I knew it was only a matter of time before one of the Christian Conservative types would suggest that the recent upheaval of Mother Nature on the East Coast would be deemed a warning from the almighty.  I just wasn't sure which one nor what the warning would be.

Claiming it was said in jest, The Financial Times reported Michele Bachmann had this to say.

 "I don't know how much God has to do to get to get the attention of the politicians. We've had an earthquake; we've had a hurricane. He said 'are you going to start listening to me here? Listen to the American people... They know the government is on a morbid obesity diet and we've got to rein in spending'."

Had any other politician said this, with the exception of Rick Perry, I would agree it was said in jest, but with Bachmann I'm not so sure.  And that's the problem.  Any time one of the candidates suggests that God has a hand in anything political I'm uncomfortable.  It makes me question what guides them politically.  God or the good sense I'd like to think He gave them.  If indeed he did.  They don't seem to be using it.

Perry, of course took his lumps when he suggested if the Bernanke printed more money before the 2012 election it would be nearly treasonous.  Again, a poor choice of words though I don't think it was meant in the way it was taken and I think the press over reacted.

It's a sad state of affairs these days, that a politician has to watch every word and phrase they utter less the press pounce upon it.  Look at Maxine Waters and her statement that the Tea Party could go to hell.  She's merely articulating, in the exact words, what many think.

Truthfully, I think we should let them speak freely.  It gives us better insight as to who they are.  Ms. Bachmann is obviously joined at the hip with her religion. I'm not sure what Mr. Perry is yet but I don't think the Bernanke comment should be a game breaker.

Mr. Bush used to shoot from the lip with a degree of regularity and Obama often reacts before thinking things through.  If the media continually attacks a turn of a phrase they will end up saying very little.  We certainly don't want that.  Consider what propelled Obama into the White House.  His ability to say very little.  I say let them talk!

Maybe These Vacations Aren't All That Bad!

Summer isn't my favorite time to travel, being basically an unsociable type.  I much prefer late spring or fall.  In the summer it's nice to just chill at home.  While everyone else is on vacation!

Bloggers blog less frequently.  Facebook updates are more about travel and family than politics.  Other than the occasional earthquake or hurricane, things just sort of drift along. The living is easy.

I've concluded that both the President and Congress are exactly where they should be this idyllic time of year.  Out of Washington D.C.  Where they can do no harm.   Hopefully.

If you stay away from the O'Reillys and Gretas and Hannitys and Cooper and Blitzer and probably the MSNBC group which I no longer watch its pretty nice.  If you do watch any of them it's like a soap opera where the same story line progresses at a snail's pace for months.  It's hard to get behind.  What the 'conservative' mouthpieces are doing is continuing to blame Obama for everything.  The liberals continue to blame Bush.  Ho hum.

If you listen very carefully, though, you'll find that guests that are always in agreement with the hosts are also in short supply.  If you really listen carefully you'll hear those guests lay blame where it really belongs.  Congress.  After all, they are the ones who have passed the legislation that has gotten us into this mess.  Both parties over quite a long time.  And of course the Presidents who have signed it.  All the Presidents for quite a long time.  Republican and Democrat.  But not just the Presidents.

So vacation is good.  It gives us a break from it.  It gives Congress a break from it and it gives the President a break from it.

As fall approaches with it's brilliant blue skies and refreshing nip in the air, we can only hope Congress will come back refreshed too.  And the President.  And that somewhere along the way they actually interacted with their constituents and listened to them.  Listened to them. That the needs of the nation will suddenly become more important than partisan politics and re-election.

Ahhh, dream on woman, dream on.  Enjoy it while you can.  I feel the heat of the campaign isn't akin to Indian Summer as much as a precursor of the deep freeze that comes with winter.   Will it be the weather or politics that chill us to the bone? I'll hope for the weather but bet on politics.

Not The Best Week For The President

Sometimes I actually feel sorry for the guy.  When even the Black Caucus states they're tired of making excuses for him, you know things aren't going well.

He's being criticized for his shiny big new black bus.  Never mind it and it's companion have been in the works for years.  Do mind, however, it was made in Canada.  It's a rolling fortress.  Strange, for a country supposedly ruled by laws, not men.

It's tough when one of your secret service men gets picked up for a DUI in Iowa!  He obviously wasn't in Ames unless the Ames Purity League that ruled the roost when I was in college has eased up.  At the time you could only get 3.2 beer.  But then maybe the Secret Service has more sophisticated tastes. College kids' beverages of choice was either the 3.2 beer or sloe gin and coke.  Makes my stomach churn just thinking about it! But then college kids were poor in those days not to mention mostly underage.

Then too, there's the criticism that the President has no clue as to how to create jobs except continue what has already failed.  Pour more money into the government. Do you get the feeling that he just doesn't get it?

Maybe he needs a vacation.  Oh, yeah, he's going to Martha's Vineyards to hob nob with all those rich folks.  You know, the private jet set he so wants to tax.  If he hadn't been there before I'd wonder how he'll be received.  The only one that will be put out will be the folks like you and  me who will lose hotel rooms, beach space and restaurant tables.  Oh well.  Go some place else.

We are.  Another mini vacation for the remainder of the week.  There's a western art show in Helena and The Bair Family Museum outside Martinsdale is having it's grand re-opening after a make over to protect its art treasures.  Montana.  No beaches, that's for sure. No secret service.  Maybe some security personnel but nothing obtrusive.  Just big sky and fresh air and georgeous scenery.

I wouldn't trade him my week nor my vacation!

Speaking Of Compromise

With Rick Perry now in the race for the Republican nomination and Tim Pawlenty gone, I'm wondering just what it is we want in our next President, assuming we don't want to re-elect Obama, and what are we are willing to compromise on to get him or her.

So far I've heard mostly negatives on everyone.  So what is it?  Do we want another empty suit?  Someone who so stuns us with personality that we look no further?  I don't.

Someone who espouses social issues above all else?  Like gay marriage and abortion?  No.  Abortion at the moment is the law of the land and I have no problem with gay marriage though civil unions seem sensible  in states willing to accept it as an alternative to something labeled 'marriage'.

Someone who has business experience and no governmental experience?  Someone who has governmental experience yet no foreign policy experience?  I could go on and on with likely combinations depending on the candidate.  Somewhere along the line we're going to have to decide among ourselves just which issues are the most important to us and look for who is strongest in those area.  None of the candidates can be all things to all people.

What I will be watching closely, something I didn't do enough of with Obama,  are the positions on the issues and the strategy for solving them.

I do know one thing.  To be against our present President, his policies, his leadership, the direction in which the country is going,  it seems to me to be a cop out to say we'd not vote for any of the opposing candidates.  To think the present is the better choice negates everything the other candidates have to offer.

In a rare show of optimism,  I'm positive that if  I compromise on the qualifications for the perfect candidate I will find one who is more than acceptable.  Congress is being asked to compromise in order to get the country moving.  If part of that equation is to include new leadership, we too are going to have to compromise.  We just need to be seriously well informed on who we choose.